At Who What Wear, we often look to the effortlessly chic dressers of Paris, London, and Copenhagen for style inspiration, but for those eager to get ahead of the curve, it’s worth turning your gaze south to Australia.
While the northern hemisphere braces for winter, Australians are stepping into summer. They’ve already perfected their cold-weather dressing, and their Instagram photos provide plenty of evidence. From Sydney to Melbourne, the country’s style set redefined what winter dressing should look like, leaning into tailoring, statement coats, cozy cardigans, and sleek boots. To get an inside look at what it takes to dress like an Australian during winter and learn about the top trends of the season, I spoke with four of the most elegant fashion influencers I follow.
Although each woman has a distinct style, two messages stood out across the board. The first was the emphasis on layering—lots of it. From dresses and skirts worn over pants to two long-sleeve shirts worn together and T-shirts layered over turtlenecks, these women showcased how to reinvent their existing wardrobes while also staying warm. Additionally, they highlighted the transformative power of outerwear. Whether it was a sharply tailored blazer, a sculptural suede jacket, or a striking faux-fur coat, bold outerwear served as the easiest way to elevate an outfit and achieve a polished look. But that’s not all. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about what It girls wore in Australia this winter.
Millie Arnold
“I’m based in Melbourne, and one of the beautiful things about the city’s street style is that anything goes,” says Millie Arnold, fashion content creator. “You’ll see a wide variety of looks—people here really embrace individuality and their personal style.” She describes her style as “chic, trend-aware, and slightly androgynous,” showcasing this through tailoring combined with softer silhouettes to create outfits that feel powerful and relaxed. This winter, she focused on texture, wearing lots of suede, shearling, and faux fur, and she noticed that others did the same. “I also observed a shift toward slimmer pants and jeans after seasons dominated by oversize outfits,” she adds. When it comes to outerwear, she emphasizes the importance of a good coat. “It’s the easiest way to elevate even the simplest outfit. You can throw it over jeans and a tee and instantly look put-together,” Arnold explains. “As a new mom with less time to get ready, coats became my go-to this winter. They helped me feel polished with minimal effort.”
Go-to winter brands: Source Unknown, Helsa, Henne, COS, The Frankie Shop, and Zara
Shop winter essentials:
Source unknown
Suede Bomber Jacket
St. Agni
90s Low Rise Jeans
Ariana Tapsell
(Image credit: Ariana Tapsell)
“I live in Melbourne, and I’d describe the street style here as effortlessly cool, layered with intention, and quietly elevated,” Ariana Tapsell says. Luxe neutrals and tonal dressing as well as textured and elevated layering are what Tapsell witnessed on the streets this winter. “I saw a lot more fur, leather, and tactile fabric as well as structured, sculptural tailoring and statement outerwear,” she adds. Tapsell herself is a coat lover, so she enjoyed experimenting with different necklines and coat shapes. “I especially embraced the funnel-neck trend,” she adds. “It felt modern but timeless at the same time.” Some of her go-to outfit formulas consisted of a long coat layered over a fitted top or knit with straight-leg trousers. She even styled a coat or trench as a dress with heels for a dressier look. “When I would feel stuck, I always reached for a full monochrome look,” Tapsell shares.
Go-to winter brands: Camilla and Marc, Viktoria & Woods, Henne, Rebe, The Frankie Shop, and COS
Shop winter essentials:
cos
Oversized Double-Breasted Wool Coat
Banana Republic
Lightweight Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater
MANGO
Ankle Straight Leg Pants
Anthropologie
Classic Pointed-Toe Pumps
Tatenda Luna
(Image credit: Tatenda Luna)
Tatenda Luna is a fashion and beauty content creator based in Melbourne, who describes her style as “playful and feminine.” This winter, she embraced layering, combining regular sweaters with cardigans of various textures. “I also noticed a lot of outerwear layering, which I think is very Miu Miu inspired,” she explains. “People were doubling up on cardigans or even wearing two jackets at once. It felt like everyone was discovering new ways to make practical layering look really chic, which made winter dressing feel more creative.” Luna also experimented with styling scarves, mentioning that the chunky scarf from ACNE Studios is a favorite of hers as well as of many fashion people in the city. “In winter, you can’t walk far without spotting an ACNE Studios scarf; it’s basically a cold-weather essential here,” she says. “You’ll usually see it paired with either sleek heeled boots or sneakers.”
Go-to winter brands: Henne, Uniqlo, and ACNE Studios
Shop winter essentials:
MANGO Selection
Classic Cotton Trench Coat
aritzia
Jolie Wool Cashmere Cardigan
Acne Studios
Vally Plaid Scarf
Paris Wycherley
(Image credit: Paris Wycherley)
“Here in Melbourne, we are well-known for wearing a lot of black as well as secondhand clothing, so you’ll usually see people wearing simple black separates with a good vintage find like a fun shoe or a bag,” content creator and personal stylist Paris Wycherley shares. This winter, Wycherley noticed a lot of tailoring on the streets. “There were so many suits, which I was thrilled about because I love a suit,” she says. “Also, structured blazers, a fur coat, and, of course, a really good boot.” She favored layering, often wearing two long-sleeve tops together or a cardigan over a shirt. Additionally, she liked to combine dresses and skirts with pants, accessorizing with a colored beanie or sunglasses to add interest to her look.
Go-to winter brands: Monphell, Harris Tapper, Deiji Studios, The Frankie Shop, Source Unknown, St. Agni, Wynn Hamlyn, COS, Zara, and H&M
Shop winter essentials:
ZW Collection
Fitted Button Blazer
Helsa
Trouser With Attached Skirt
source unknown
Wallis Oversized Grandpa Fur Coat
